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For first-time visitors to China

Your first day in China, sorted.

Answer a few questions and get a checklist that actually helps — phone, payment, getting to your hotel, checking in, eating, and what to do if something goes sideways.

Build Your Checklist Learn Useful Phrases

No login needed

Works on your phone

Focused on day one

Honest advice

Readiness Preview

Shanghai evening arrival

2 must-fix

City

Shanghai

Arrival

Evening

Payment

Not sure

Internet

Airport Wi-Fi only

Airport

Get online, make sure you can pay, pick your ride to the hotel.

Phrases

Have your hotel address in Chinese and a few key phrases saved.

Hotel

Passport out, booking name ready, know how you'll pay the deposit.

First meal

Something easy and close. You're tired — keep it simple.

The checklist helps you prepare. It does not confirm visa eligibility, guarantee payment success, or guarantee service availability.

Preparation checklist

A checklist that's actually useful.

Tell us your arrival city, time, payment situation, internet plan, hotel status, and luggage. We'll turn that into a to-do list split by before-you-fly, at-the-airport, and just-in-case.

Takes about 5 minutes

Before landing

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

Airport

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

Payment

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

Useful phrases

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

Hotel

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

First meal

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

Plan B

Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.

The stuff that trips people up

Not the fun stuff — the stuff that matters on day one.

Paying for things

China runs on mobile payment. Get set up before you land, and have a Plan B for when the QR code says no.

Getting online

No internet means no maps, no translation, no ride-hailing. Figure out your connectivity before you board.

Airport to hotel

It's 11pm, you have two suitcases, and the metro closed an hour ago. Pick your route before this happens.

Hotel check-in

Foreign passport? There's paperwork. Know what name to book under and what to show at the desk.

Clothing and weather

Beijing in January is brutal. Shanghai in July is a sauna. Check the forecast and pack your arrival layer on top.

Your first meal

You're exhausted and nothing has English menus. Have a simple plan — even if it's just a convenience store run.

Useful Chinese phrases

Six phrases will get you through taxis, check-in, ordering food, and asking for help. Save them on your phone.

First day checklist

Short on time? Just cover these areas.

A quick pre-flight checklist so you're not scrambling after you land.

Before departure

At the airport

Payment

Internet

Phrases

Transport

Hotel

Core guides

Day-one guides, not generic travel tips.

View guide checklist

Medium risk

Payment Setup Guide

Mobile wallets, cards, cash — get at least two working before you land.

Core guide

Arrival Guide

You just landed. Here's what to do: bags, phone, transport, hotel, food.

Practical

Hotel Check-In Guide

Passport, booking name, deposit — what to have ready so check-in goes smoothly.

Practical

Train Booking Guide

Real-name tickets, big stations, passport scanning — how it all works for foreigners.

City first-day guides